Junior G Aaryn EllenbergEllenberg scored a game-high 24 points, including 20 in the first half as she was perfect on six 3-point attempts. Now with 179, the junior jumped to No. 2 all-time for career 3-pointers at Oklahoma.Aaryn Ellenberg's Bio

NORMAN, Okla. -- Aaryn Ellenberg scored 24 points and Whitney Hand added 19 as Oklahoma mounted a furious comeback attempt, but fell short losing its first home opener in 15 years to UCLA, 86-80, Wednesday.

Ellenberg was 6-for-6 on 3-pointers to keep OU close in the first half, but UCLA managed to stall that option in the second half as they built as much as an 18 point lead with 12 minutes remaining.

"I'm disappointed with our effort and our response to the physical play," OU Head Coach Sherri Coale said. "If that's the way they're going to play then we have to adjust to it, and we have to fight back and be just as physical as they're being. I didn't think we responded in the right way.

Four Bruins scored in double figures, led by 18 from Thea Lemberger. Tulsa, Okla., native and Tennessee transfer Alyssia Brewer totaled 15 points and 16 rebounds in her second game with UCLA.

UCLA found its game going through the paint, where it scored 46 of its points and dominated rebounding 56 to 34.

"You don't beat anybody when you give up 24 offensive rebounds," Coale added. "It's just a number that's unheard of. At halftime, 23 of their points were from offensive rebounds, that is us beating ourselves. All of this stems from the physicality, on the ball and away from the ball."

The Sooners' shooting went cold in the second half as UCLA widened the margin. Jasmine Dixon's layup and 1 had the Bruins up 78-65 with 5 minutes to play, but Oklahoma made four of its next five field goals and all four free throw attempts to bring the game within one possession.

Sharane Campbell's layup made the score 82-80 with just under 1 minute, but OU could not connect on three of its final four posessions as they fouled UCLA to preserve time.

The loss was Oklahoma's first in a home opener since Sherri Coale's second season in 1997-98. The Sooners previously had a 14-game winning streak of Lloyd Noble Center openers.

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